partner of the netwerk

A ZIM network (also called innovation network or cooperation network) is an association of at least six small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) or, in the case of an international network of at least four German small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), two foreign companies and, in addition to the German network management institution, one foreign coordinator. Other partners may also participate (e.g. university institutes, research institutions, large companies and other institutions such as associations).

The aim of the cooperation is to jointly develop and market innovative products, processes or technical services in a technologically or regionally oriented network or along a value chain. There is no restriction to certain fields of technology and industries.

The nationwide ZIM innovation network INSTANT was founded in 2020 with 8 small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) and three research institutes (FE), each with several institutes and five foreign partners, and is constantly growing (currently the network already includes 15 SME, 5 FE and 5 foreign partners). The network management of INSTANT is carried out by the Zentrum für Produkt-, Verfahrens- und Prozessinnovation GmbH, located in the Experimentelle Fabrik Magdeburg. The INSTANT network is interdisciplinary and supra-regional or international. The partners of the network come from Germany (from the federal states of Bavaria, Berlin, Hesse, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt) as well as Canada and Italy.

The INSTANT network is made up of companies and research institutions that are know-how carriers in the necessary technology areas or contribute synergetic competences. In order to be able to provide a broad and solid basis for the processing of the network topic in terms of planning, research and implementation, the network relies on a cross-domain partner approach. Thus, representatives from the fields of hardware (e.g. electronics, sensor technology, mechatronics, mechanical engineering, materials technology, manufacturing processes) as well as software (e.g. blood flow and interaction simulations, image processing, tracking and visualization) are involved. In addition, end customers will accompany the R&D work in the network as associated partners and will contribute to ensuring developments suitable for practical application. The network is open for further partners [ ... more information].